Ruth Elizabeth Barawskas

Ruth Elizabeth Barry was born on February 23, 1921, in Detroit. She was the third and last child to be born of Ida (nee Volette) and Frances Barry. Her parents emigrated from Canada but had deep English roots. "Tea Time" was always important to Ruth. Her childhood centered around home and school. She was best friends with her sister Lois. Her brother Jack was another story… Ruth would laugh about the "pickles" he would get himself into. There was no doubt that she loved them both. She attended Detroit public schools but dropped out of high school in her senior year to help the family out financially during the Great Depression. It was a regrettable yet necessary decision. It was one that would be revisited years later. During her teens and early 20's, Ruth was quite the dancer. She loved to go dancing at the Gandy Ballroom in downtown Detroit She was a graceful and elegant dancer. When she was 20, Ruth married Scotsman Walter Neil and had three daughters Barbara, JoAnne and Judy. She was a stay at home mom for many years-leading Girl Scout and Brownie troops. In 1954, Ruth went to work at the Hazel Park City Hall as a typist. Through her daughters' childhood and teen years, Ruth was always there for them…sewing gowns for membership in Rainbow girls, attending high school plays, swim meets, and letting her animal-loving and tender-hearted youngest daughter keep the live chicken she rescued from the butcher shop as a pet, much to the consternation of the family dog. Ruth kept growing in her position with the City of Hazel Park. She became the city clerk in 1967. Her daughters called her the "queen bee" behind her back as they just knew she kept that city humming. She was ever efficient, helpful, effective, and caring. Yet she always has had a quiet unassuming manner. When she was sworn in as City Clerk, the City Manager, Vance Foust, at the time was quoted in the newspaper saying, "She has done an outstanding job, we are fortunate to have her." After Walter died in 1965, Ruth married Eugene Lindsey. He was the recent widower and father-in-law of her niece, Jackie. Soon Ruth became the mother-in-law to her niece and grandmother to her grand nieces, Barbara Jean, Joann and grandmother to her grandnephew, Michael…it sounds confusing but it worked! Eugene and Ruth traveled a lot and especially to Kentucky where he was from and made many endearing friends with the kin from Kentucky. After Gene's death, Ruth was pretty resigned to leading a "single" life. But it was full of family and friends---wonderful Christmases and get-togethers shared with her ever fun- loving nieces, Jackie Beebe and Gloria Wojciechowski and their husbands and family. Travels with her sister Lois and other friends took her to Hawaii, Spain, and many fun and exotic places. She instigated special occasions where family and friends would all go out for dinner and dancing, catching a special performance of Carmen at the opera, or just to the movies. She also created special time with her grandchildren. It was during this time that Ruth started to verbalize her regrets about not graduating from high school. She did not want a GED but a high school diploma…..so she enrolled in adult high school, in Hazel Park and finished her needed courses, graduated with flying colors the same year her grandsons graduated from high school. Just as Ruth was getting used to being single-one never knows what God has in store for you!-enter center stage-Stanley Barawskas, her prince charming! After a romantic courtship, they married in 1981when she was 60 and he 61 proving that it's never too late to fall in love. Stan enriched her life more by adding his children (son, Ron, daughters, Debbie Woodell, Darlene Jedrusik, and Denise Provost) plus their spouses, children and many grandchildren into Ruth's extended and blended family. In 1985, Ruth retired from the City of Hazel Park as City Clerk. She was so well- respected, the Michigan Legislature honored her for her dedication to public service. After her husband retired, they traveled throughout the United States and spent time at their cottage in Holly, Michigan fishing and golfing. Ruth loved reading and always had her nose in a book. Ruth had her trials and tribulations, heartbreak and heartache with early deaths of youngest child and husbands. But Ruth had a heartening soul- with a quiet dignity, warm acceptance, strong inner spirit, and unconditional love. She was cherished and loved. Ruth was the loving mother of Barbara Boland, Joanne Neil, and the late Judith Connolly. Proud grandmother of James, Leslie, Jeffery, Deedra, and Timothy. Great-grandmother of five and great-great grandmother of three. Visitation will be held Sunday, February 28, 4 - 8 p.m. at Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Road (4 blocks E. of Woodward), Royal Oak. Funeral service Monday, March 1, 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to East Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com.

Ruth Elizabeth Barawskas

February 23, 1921 - February 21, 2021